🏏 Sat, 20 Dec 2025 20:00 CET
NEC Nijmegen
vs
Ajax
3-4-1-2 vs Positions estimated ※ estimated
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- Three Japanese internationals take the field at once. NEC start 186cm centre-forward Koki Ogawa alongside 22-year-old central midfielder Kodai Sano, while Ajax field 188cm centre-back Ko Itakura in the back line. Ogawa lives on headers and hold-up play; Itakura rarely gets beaten one-on-one. Every aerial duel inside the box becomes a direct Japanese contest.
- NEC's two central defenders both have Ajax in their past. Turkey international Ahmetcan Kaplan, a 22-year-old left-footed 189cm centre-back, is on loan at Nijmegen from Ajax and faces his parent club. Beside him is Philippe Sandler, 28 and 190cm, an Ajax academy graduate who passed through Manchester City before becoming NEC's defensive anchor. On the bench sits 36-year-old Jasper Cillessen, formerly of both Ajax and Barcelona.
- The reunion runs the other way too. Ajax's 22-year-old left-footed centre-back Youri Baas came through the Amsterdam academy but earned his senior grounding on loan at NEC Nijmegen before establishing himself in the first team. His long left-footed passing makes him Ajax's build-up trigger, so how calmly he moves the ball against the club that toughened him up is worth watching.
- NEC line up 3-4-1-2 with 35-year-old Bryan Linssen partnering Ogawa up front. At 170cm Linssen is a poacher who played European nights with Feyenoord and spent time in Japan with Urawa Red Diamonds, still able to get shots away in tight spaces. Behind the pair sits Suriname international Tjaronn Chery, whose left foot supplies through balls and long-range efforts.
- Ajax's attack blends a marquee signing with academy explosion. Number 10 Oscar Gloukh arrived from Red Bull Salzburg for around 14.75 million euros and is an Israel international who can use both feet for the final pass. On the left, 20-year-old Belgian Mika Godts has produced 12 goals and nine assists in 21 games this season, and NEC's right side must handle his cut-ins.
- Through the middle Ajax use Kasper Dolberg, who broke out in Amsterdam before spells at Nice, Sevilla, Hoffenheim and Anderlecht and has since returned. With 56 caps and 12 goals for Denmark, he can drop in to hold the ball or spin in behind, which makes the height at which NEC's back three set their line a genuine tactical question.
- The midfield contrast is striking. Ajax pair 32-year-old Davy Klaassen, now in his third spell at the club, with 22-year-old Youri Regeer, brought back from FC Twente via a roughly 4.3 million euro buy-back clause, and two-footed 17-year-old Sean Steur. NEC counter with Croatian holding midfielder Darko Nejasmic, schooled at Hajduk Split and Osijek, plus former Japan U-20 international Kodai Sano covering ground box to box.
- The flanks are loaded with specialists. NEC push 21-year-old Turkish winger Onal, who managed 19 goals and 11 assists in 83 games for De Graafschap, down the left, with left-footed Sami Ouaissa on the right. Ajax answer with Dane Anton Gaaei, signed for a record fee from Viborg FF, and Brazilian Lucas Rosa, a product of Juventus's youth system who also spent time at Real Valladolid.
- Even the goalkeeping duel splits along different paths. NEC's 25-year-old Argentine Gonzalo Crettaz was schooled at Malaga and hardened in Spain's second and third tiers, with a reputation for close-range saves. Ajax use Czech international Vitezslav Jaros, on loan from Liverpool, a 190cm shot-stopper who won a league and cup double at Sturm Graz. Cillessen, 36, and Remko Pasveer, 42, wait on the benches.